IT is not uncommon for young golfers to dream of becoming a Tour pro and that is the same for Morgan Blythe, even if he has a shorter term goal driving him on first.

The Thorp Academy student, who only joined the Ryton secondary school and sixth form a couple of months ago, wants his excellent progress to continue in the weeks ahead to secure a place in the prestigious Reid Trophy later this summer.

The Reid is the biggest competition for the Under-14s in the country, as it is the English Boys Open Amateur Championship for that age group.

Blythe would love to get there, having seen his handicap drop to 8 in recent months after impressing for the county and establishing himself on the England Regional coaching squad at Matfen Hall.

He said: “Lately I have been focused on getting my handicap down to 7.4 so I can enter the Reid in Reading in August. I've been really happy with how things have been going.

“I have been on the Regional Squad since last September, and I have improved a lot during that time. We went up to Archerfield in Scotland to play a Scottish team a couple of months ago and that was a great experience.

“The challenges you do help improve your skill, determination and course management. I just want to keep getting better.”

The Year 8 student, aged 13, travels over to Thorp from Riding Mill and is now part of the Northumberland County coaching after impressing in a recent event.

Blythe said: “I played in a county match-play qualifier the other day and shot an 82 to qualify.I got to the quarter-final and played a 20-year-old.

“I was six down through seven, got it back and he holed a good put on the last to go to play-off. In the play-off my putt lipped out but I was pleased how I played against him.”

Morgan started playing aged seven and then went on to win the Hexham Junior Open in 2015, his local club where he is coached by Andy Paisley, who he says has been an “enormous help”. He also won the Matfen Hall Junior Club Championship.

As part of the Elite Performer Programme at Thorp, he also has sessions at Close House with Tim Cockill and European Tour golfer Graeme Storm.

“America is an option for me to further my education, before I turn 20 I would quite like a scholarship,” he said.

“It’s going to look a lot better for me when I try to do that if I have a good education behind me and being a sports scholarship student already at Thorp will look a lot better for me.

“I have come to be part of the EPP and the quality of the education here, with the improvements in school is what is best for me.

“The EPP gives you the best possible start as a young golfer (or promising athlete), with the strength and conditioning. I am really enjoying being part of it.”